The intrigues behind the late-night attempted arrest of former Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang’i continue to unfold as lawyer Dunstan Omari revealed the pivotal role played by former President Uhuru Kenyatta in a bid to save his former cabinet from looming police raids.
While speaking to the press, Matiang’i’s lawyer, Omari affirmed that they had received strict orders from Uhuru to head to court early Thursday morning, February 9, in a bid to seek anticipatory bail for all former CSs.
He added that they would escort the former Interior CS to the nearest police station to record his statement.
According to Omari, the motive behind the attempted arrest could be perceived as a means to scare Uhuru’s former Cabinet from attending the late Professor George Magoha’s funeral service slated for Saturday, February 11.
In addition, the lawyer condemned the officers for attempting to contravene the law as they failed to produce an arrest warrant.
“This habit of walking into the home of someone at night and just making arrests is unacceptable and unconstitutional. We shall not allow the officers to nab him,” he stated.
Omari also affirmed that Matiang’i was well aware of the attempted arrest ten hours before the officers surrounded his Karen home.
Reports indicated that the former CS informed his team of lawyers to be on high alert.
“This is something that we had already been told was going to happen, but we did not know that they were planning to arrive at his home during the night,” the former CS’s ally told Nation.
It is reported that over 20 officers arrived in five motor vehicles at Matiangi’s home in Karen in a bid to attempt to force their way in.
However, the officers were confronted by Matiangi’s security team and his lawyers who shortly arrived minutes after 10:00 pm.
The motive behind the attempted arrest is unclear at the time of publishing this article as initial claims of the officers belonging to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) were refuted by EACC boss Twalib Mbarak.
Azimio leader Raila Odinga, who arrived at the former CS’s home minutes after 10:00 pm condemned the act and wondered why officers sought to arrest the former CS.
“My client is holed up as if he is a former fugitive in his own country. This is a former Minister in charge of security and the police. Civility must be retained.
“We can’t have a rogue government that comes at midnight to arrest the former CS,” Raila noted.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE